BALCLUTHA TOWN COUNCIL.

Clutha Leader, Volume III, Issue 138, 2 March 1877, Page 5

BALCLUTHA TOWN COUNCIL.

c : — A special meeting of the Town Council was held last night. The Mayor and ah Councillors were present. The Mayor explained that the object of th 3 meeting was to consider what course the Council should pursue in the matter of the bridge. He read the following letter on the subject : — Minister's Office, Custom House, Duneclin, February 27, 1877. Sir, — Referring to the deputation from your Town Council which waited upon me on Saturday last with reference: to.the Balclutha bridge, I have now the honour to inform you that the la'e Provim ial Engineer has reported to me that the bridge wus left in thorough repair by the Engineer a Department, and only reqviired the painting oi the parapets to put it iv first-rate order. It appears from the Engineer's report that during the year ending 31st December, 1876, the bridge was thoroughly overhauled and repaired, aid all the timbers below the roadway scraped and tarred j that the piles Were found to be in good order; that all the tension rods and L'Olfcs were examined and repaired, the parapet strengthened by wire plates and bolts at every joint., and. all unsnuud timbers renewed. The engineer ia of opinion that with proper I care and attention, and an annual expenditure of £150, the bridge in question will last for thirtyyears yet. — 1 have, &c,, Geo. M'Lean. Councillor Hogg considered it would be imprudent on the part of the Council to take over the bridge in the face of the opinion of their own Solicitor, read at a former meeting. He thought they should first obtain the opinion of Mr Stout upon the subject, and then lay the matter before the ratepayers at a public meeting. He believed the bridge would be free in the course of a couple of years, and then there would be no revenue to meet the repairs. Councillor Dunne thought no one could doubt the bridge should all along have been in the possession of the Council, but when formerly asked it apparently was too good a thing for the Government to let go, and therefore refused it. With, the revenue that might now be expected from the toll it would be out of the question for Balclutha to think of maintaining the bridge. Apparently, however, they would be forced to take charge of it, and they should keep a separate account of the revenue and expenditure in connection with the bridge, and only expend what they received... He did not see the advisability of calling a public meeting, as the matter would not then be so fully and calmly considered as by the Council. Many also might wish to have the bridge free, and then there would I be no revenue to expend. | Councillor Hope considered the Government were acting in this matter same as ■ they did with the Abolition of the Provinces — forcing it upon the people whether they wanted it or not. Apparently they would be obliged to take charge of the bridge and make the best v of it. He feared the matter would not be calmly considered at a public meeting, and the result might prove unsatisfactory. I Councillor Tosh had all along been against taking over the bridge, and now, with the progress made with the railway, there would not be revenue to meet repairs. Notwithstanding the report of the Engineer, he believed anyone tapping the bridge with a hammer would find much of the timber was in a very rotten condition. It Avould be a much more satisfactory arrangement for the Governent to continue in charge of the bridge. At all events the Council should not take it until forced to do so. The Mayor said if the Council refused to take it, the Government would cause it to be repaired at their expense. Councillor Cramond said the Council seemed to be of one opinion — that the Municipality was not in a position to take over and maintain the bridge. They, therefore, should not leave a stone untiirned to keep clear of it. If the Council refuse it, the Government would not be likely to go to extreme measures with them, seeing the bridge was required for the general traffic of the country* In the face of the opinion of their own solicitor he did not think the Council should agree to take over the bridge without first consulting the ratepayers. After some further discussion, Mr Hogg moved that the solicitor be instructed to ! obtain Mr Stout's opinion upon the re- j sponsibility of the Council in the matter. \ Seconded by Councillor Cramond, and ( carried. The meeting then adjourned.